Enjoying leisure time with our dogs is one of life’s most genuine pleasures. Because it allows us to get to know each other in other ways, spend time together in settings different from our home, and see our friends make new friends with other dogs and have fun with them. It also allows us (and this is just as important) to meet other Aristopeters, thanks to our pets’ contact with others, establish connections with people who love animals as much as we do, and who share our way of life.
As a result, there are increasingly more leisure activities designed so that pet lovers can enjoy themselves in the company of our best friends. Without obstacles, limits, or absurd prejudices.
Speaking of this, one of the initiatives that has surprised us most recently is the one organized by the “La Usina” theater in Madrid, which recently presented “Rehearsal for a Farewell.” It is a play about a woman torn between the lie of life and the truth of death, while a spirit tries to take away her fear of the unknown.
In principle, this would have “nothing special” about it were it not for the fact that attendees were allowed to enjoy the performance alongside their pets. A surprising and pioneering initiative that we hope will pave the way for new “dog-friendly” cultural experiences.
The play “Rehearsal for a Farewell,” by the Almanema company, was “minimally” adapted to avoid causing frights or loud noises that could upset the dogs. During the performance, which lasted forty-five minutes, the dogs present (Teo, Mari Puri, Panda, Pancho, Lana, and Cronos) displayed impeccable behavior (they remained seated and silent) and set an example for those who predicted that this initiative would be a disaster. That said, at the end of the play, they showed their enthusiasm with an ovation of affectionate barks that the cast and organizers undoubtedly appreciated.
Following the success of this pilot initiative, it is reasonable to expect it to be replicated elsewhere and, as far as the play itself is concerned, for attendance to increase, so that more people can soon attend with their four-legged friends.
It is therefore clear that attending the theater with your dog is a unique experience, but it should be kept in mind that this is only possible if the dog is well trained - that is, if we owners are aware of our responsibilities and understand that we have an obligation to educate ourselves and remain consistent.
In countries such as France, a dog-training course is mandatory, which helps people become more aware of what owning a pet entails, while also teaching them how to treat their pets. For French society, this means that dogs are better adapted and integrated. It would be good if the same happened in Spain so that the “dog-friendly” movement could continue to grow. Because in reality, there is nothing preventing well-trained dogs from being increasingly welcomed in shops, bars, art galleries… and even theaters.
We hope you found this post interesting and that it encourages you to explore the many leisure alternatives with pets that exist (there are more every day!). That said, we would like to know what you think of this particular initiative. Have you ever had the opportunity to attend a pilot event where leisure activities could be combined with canine companionship?
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